Covered receptacle and method of making the same or the like



:evian RECBPTACLE AND METHOD 0F MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE O. R. WEBER April 23, 196s Filed Feb. 26, 1965 r sagugexaeyeeaeeree FIG' 1N VENTO/z. OTTO R. WEBER 'I HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,379,337 COVERED RECEPTACLE AND METHD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE Otto R. Weber, Henrico County, Va., assigner to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 435,565 10 Claims. (Cl. 220--67) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an improved means for sealing a cover member to the open end of a metallic foil receptacle having an outwardly directed substantially horizontal flange surrounding the open end thereof and against which the outer peripheral portion of the cover member is disposed, the horizontal ange having a sealing compound disposed thereon to secure the cover member thereto and the horizontal flange terminating in an upwardly directed peripheral ange adapted to be folded over the outer peripheral edge of the cover member when the same are assembled together.

This invention relates to lan improved covered receptacle wherein the product is fluid sealed therein las Well as to an improved method of making such a covered receptacle or the like.

It is well known that various open-ended metallic foil receptacles have been provided wherein the same define a horizontal Flange Vat the open end thereof and over which a cover member is disposed to hold the product in the open ended metallic foil receptacle. IFor example, such foil receptacles have been utilized for food products, either frozen or otherwise, as well as for self-contained popcorn popping containers.

However, it has been found that no suitable means have been provided for sealing such cover members to the flanges of the open ended lreceptacles to provide a fluid-tight seal therewith to prevent avor loss and/or food deterioration.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, an improved means is provided wherein the cover member can be duid sealed to the horizontal flange o-f the open ended metallic foil receptacle whether the cover member is made from paperboard and/or foil as desired, such fluid sealing being provided by a rubber resin sealing compound in a manner hereinafter described.

Accordingly, it is a object of this invention to provide an improved covered receptacle having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of making such Va covered receptacle or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE .l is a perspective view of the improved receptacle of this invention being yutilized for a self-contained popcorn popper.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional View taken on line 3--3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates only the open ended metallic foil receptacle.

'FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 lare respectively views similar to ICC FIGURE 5 and illustrate other embodiments of this inventi-on.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates another type of open ended foil receptacle that can be utilized according to the teachings of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as .being particularly adaptable to provide a self-contained popcorn container, it is to be 4understood that the various features of this invention can be Autilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide other types of containers as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of vuses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention is generally indicated `by the reference numeral 10 and comprises an open ended metallic `foil receptacle 11 having the open end thereof closed by a cover member 12 in `a manner hereinafter described, the container l10 ybeing a conventional self-contained popcorn container having a Wire handle 13 for lholding the container 10 over a suitable burner of a range or the like :for the popping operation.

In particular, it can readily be seen in FIGURE 4 that the metallic foil receptacle 11 has an open end 14 provided with an outwardly directer horizontal ilange 15 interconnected at its outer end to an upwardly directed peripheral portion 16 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The receptacle 11 is normally formed by drawing a sheet of metallic foil into the conguration illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby the horizontal flange 15 h-as a plurality of substantially radially disposed wrinkles 17 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

When the receptacle 11 has been formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, a sealing compound 18 of vided with -an `outwardly directed horizontal llange 15 inthe manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the sealing compound 18 extending from the corner 19 to a point 20 inboard of the corner 19 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 and having a height greater than the -height of the wrinkles 17 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

While any suit-able sealing compound can be utilized to perform the functions of this invention, it has been found that when the sealing compound 13 is formed of a synthetic rubber resin made from pigmented -and plasticized rubber stock, the sealing compound 18 can be placed on the flange 15 of the receptacle 11 and dried thereon whereby the same can be subsequently activated in any suitable manner to seal the cover member 12 thereto in a manner hereinafter described.

For example, such synthetic rubber resin sealing compounds are sold under the trade names Darex Dispersion Concentrates 3501 and 1105 by the Dewey and Almy Chemical Division of W. R. Grace and Company, Cambridge, Mass.

The 1105 compound has 40.5% total solids, a specic gravity of 1.23, a lm volume 0f 658 mm, a iilm Weight of 843 mg. and 218 ends per pound. The 3501 compound has 32% total solids, a speciiic gravity of 1.46, a film volume of 685 mm, a film weight of 1000 mg., and containers per pound.

These compounds can be applied as a liquid in the form of a partial rubber dispersion and partial solution in a solvent.

When it is desired to close the receptacle 11 as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the cover member 12, formed of any suitable material, is disposed in the open end 14 of the receptacle 11 whereby an outer peripheral portion El of the cover member 12 rests on the flange 15 of the receptable 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2. In this manner, the cover member 12 is adapted to be secured to the flange 15 by the sealing compound 18, the sealing compound 18 being activated by heat and/ or pressure to effect a fluid-tight seal between the cover member 12 and the flange 15 of the receptacle 11 to fluid seal the product 22 in the receptacle =11. If desired, the under surface 23 of the cover member 12 can be formed of paperboard and/ or metallic foil as desired.

Thereafter, the circular portion 24 of the handle 13 is disposed over the cover member 12 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 and the peripheral portion 15 of the receptacle 11 is folded over the same in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 to hold the handle 13 to the receptacle 11.

Thereafter, the container 10 of this invention can be utilized in a conventional manner to pop popcorn by having the cover member 12 openable by the tear strip portion 25 to expose the foil 26 which permits expansion of the popping product 22 in the conventional manner.

As previously set forth, the receptacle 11 of this invention can be utilized for a product other than popcorn. For example, the receptacle 11 can be utilized for frozen foods or the like, wherein the cover member 12 is secured thereto by the sealing compound 18 in the manner hereinafter described and no handle means 13 need be provided.

If desired, the flange 15 of the receptacle 11 can be provided with a groove to more readily permit the use of the handle 13 or to provide structural strength to the peripheral flange 15 as desired.

For example, reference is made to FIGURES 6 through 8 wherein the peripheral flange 15 of the receptacle 11 is provided with a groove 27 extending from the corner 19 to a point 2S inboard of the corner l19 for the above purpose.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the sealing compound 18 can be disposed only in the groove 27.

If desired, the sealing compound -18 can be disposed only inboard of the groove 27 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.

However, the sealing compound can be disposed both in the groove 27 and on the flange 15 at a point inboard of the groove 27 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8.

Thus, it can be seen from FIGURES 5-8 that the horizontal flange 15 of the receptacle 11 can be modified and f the position of the sealing compound thereon can be varied within the teachings of this invention.

While circular metallic foil receptacles 11 have been previously described, it is to be understood that the receptacles of this invention 'can be formed in any desired configuration.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 9 wherein another metallic foil receptacle of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 29 and has a substantially rectangular configuration with a horizontal flange 30 at the open end 31 thereof, the horizontal flange 30 being interconnected to a vertically extending peripheral portion 32 and having the sealing compound 18 disposed thereon to secure a suitable cover member thereto in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide an improved covered receptacle wherein the product in the receptacle is fluid-sealed therein, but also this invention provides an improved method of making such a covered receptacle or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an open-ended metallic foil receptacle having a flange at the open end thereof, a sealing compound on said flange, and a cover member spanning the open end of said receptacle and being secured to said flange by said compound whereby a fluid-tight seal is provided between said cover member and said receptacle, said flange having an outer peripheral portion thereof folded over said cover member, said peripheral portion defining a corner with the remainder of said flange, said compound being disposed on said flange at a point spaced inboard of said corner whereby a portion of said flange between said compound and said corner does not havek said compound thereon.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flange has an annular groove provided therein.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said compound is only disposed inboard of said annular groove.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lgroove is formed in said portion of said flange and extends from said corner to a point inboard of said corner.

S. In combination, an open-ended metallic foil receptacle having a flange at the open end thereof, a sealing compound on said flange, and a cover member spanning the open end of said receptacle and being secured to said flange by said compound whereby a fluid-tight seal is provided between said cover member and said receptacle, said flange having an outer peripheral portion thereof folded over said cover member, said flange having a groove provided therein, said compound being disposed in said groove and inboard of said groove on said flange.

6. A method for making a covered receptacle comprising the steps of providing an open-ended metallic foil receptacle having a flange at `the open end thereof, disposing a sealing compound on said flange, securing a cover member to said flange by said compound whereby a fluid-tight seal is provided between said cover member and said receptacle, and folding a peripheral portion of said flange over said secured cover member, said lastnamed step defining a corner of said flange by said peripheral portion, said step of disposing said compound on said flange including the step of disposing said compound on said flange at a point spaced inboard of said corner so that a portion of said flange between said compound and said corner does not have any compound thereon.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 and including the step of providing an annular groove in said flange.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 and including the step of disposing said compound on said flange at a point only inboard of said groove.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 and including the step of forming said groove in said flange in said portion .of said flange to extend from said corner to a point inboard of said corner.

10. A method for making a covered receptacle comprising the steps of providing an open-ended metallic foil receptacle having a flange at the open end thereof, provid ing .a groove in said flange, disposing a sealing compound on said flange, securing a cover member to said flange by said compound whereby a fluid-tight seal is provided between said cover member and said receptable, and folding Ia peripheral portion of said flange over said secured cover member, said step of disposing said compound on said flange including the step of disposing said compound in said groove and on said flange inboard of said groove.

References Cited UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 2,849,148 87'1958 Lohuis 22o-67 2,967,652 1/1'961 Canfield et al 229-3.5 2,979,224 4/1961 Henchen 22o-67 3,037,677 5/1962 Debs 229-18 3,082,906 3/1963 Reed 229-3",

FOREIGN PATENTS 828,152 2/1960 Grt-,atentan 971,890 10/1964 Greater-nam.

144,914 4/1954 sweden.

MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. 

